By Renee | July 7, 2012

The Big One for Drop is over and the winner of the long awaited buy-in charity tournament has been announced. Among the many CEOs and poker pros who battled it out in the $1 million buy-in event, Antonio Esfandiari has emerged the ultimate winner. Esfandiari bagged the highest ever - top prize that any poker event offered, a sum of $18,346,673. The three-day event culminated in a daylong battle against Sam Trickett. Esfandiari overcame Trickett’s flush draw in the 85th hand. At the finishing point, Esfandiari had about 143,975,000 chips.

At the end of day-two, Esfandiari and Trickett possessed the highest chip-stack among the other six opponents. Apart from his big-fat cash win, Esfandiari also won the diamond and platinum champion bracelet. Sam Trickett who took the second place in the Big Drop tournament, bagged $10,113,001. The eight players who advanced to day-three returned to split the $41,557,339. David Einhorn who finished third place won $4,352,000, which he plans to donate entirely to City Year – a non-profit charity organization focusing on education. Einhorn, a Hedge Fund Manager from New York City was ecstatic over his charity plans.

Phil Hellmuth a poker pro with over 12 WSOP gold bracelets in his kitty lost out on the chance to win the event. He was eliminated at the fourth place with $2,645,333 in earnings. Sam Trickett, who won second place, took home his fourth seven-figure winnings. The only other poker pro to have four or more seven-figure earnings is Gus Hansen, Michael Mizrachi and Phil Ivey.

Esfandiari was scheduled to be an analyst for ESPN during the three-day event, but instead became the chip leader. He entered the final table with 39,925,000 chips, while Trickett had 37,000,000. Esfandiari is in awe of his win, and said, “It’s unbelievable. It’s euphoric. I’m so happy right now, and I don’t even think it has set in.”

The event began with 48 players from different walks of life. The main goal of the event was to advocate the importance of water in places with water scarcity. The international water advocacy charity One Drop will receive more than $5.3 million from the game as a donation for the cause.

The Big One for One Drop championship is the 55th of 61 events held in the 43rd World Series of Poker event. The WSOP tournament started off on May 28 with much excitement and fanfare.

At the end of day-two, Esfandiari and Trickett possessed the highest chip-stack among the other six opponents. Apart from his big-fat cash win, Esfandiari also won the diamond and platinum champion bracelet. Sam Trickett who took the second place in the Big Drop tournament, bagged $10,113,001. The eight players who advanced to day-three returned to split the $41,557,339. David Einhorn who finished third place won $4,352,000, which he plans to donate entirely to City Year – a non-profit charity organization focusing on education. Einhorn, a Hedge Fund Manager from New York City was ecstatic over his charity plans.

Phil Hellmuth a poker pro with over 12 WSOP gold bracelets in his kitty lost out on the chance to win the event. He was eliminated at the fourth place with $2,645,333 in earnings. Sam Trickett, who won second place, took home his fourth seven-figure winnings. The only other poker pro to have four or more seven-figure earnings is Gus Hansen, Michael Mizrachi and Phil Ivey.

Esfandiari was scheduled to be an analyst for ESPN during the three-day event, but instead became the chip leader. He entered the final table with 39,925,000 chips, while Trickett had 37,000,000. Esfandiari is in awe of his win, and said, “It’s unbelievable. It’s euphoric. I’m so happy right now, and I don’t even think it has set in.”

The event began with 48 players from different walks of life. The main goal of the event was to advocate the importance of water in places with water scarcity. The international water advocacy charity One Drop will receive more than $5.3 million from the game as a donation for the cause.

The Big One for One Drop championship is the 55th of 61 events held in the 43rd World Series of Poker event. The WSOP tournament started off on May 28 with much excitement and fanfare.